The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-29
R1DDLEBERaER's EXPLANATION
The Recent Contempt Case-Why He
Was Sent to Jail.

The Recent Contempt Case-Why He
Was Sent to Jail.
WOODSTOCK, VA, Aug. 25.-The Shenan-
doah Herald will this week publish a two
column statement by Senator Riddleberger
concerning his recent Imprisonment for
contempt of court He says:
"'There live within the limits of this Cor
poration' two pulpitless preachers One is
named Wetzel, the other Moore, and both
now live in retirement. For a neighbor
these quondam teachers of charity have one
W. w. Jones, who has been arraigued sew
eral times for offences, the gravity of
which will appear further on. On several
occasions | have defended Jones, but in each
case it was for alleged wrongs done
to one or both of these gentlemen.
Jones is poor, deaf, and the last jury
said crazy. Jones lives in a small house
separated by narrow road from an old out
lying field of MoOre's which was permitted
to grow up in blackberries. For the offense
of walking across this road and picking less
than pint tin cup) of these berries this
good Samaritan had Jones arrested for
trespass, the trial of which resulted in a fine
of 81 so and costs, or imprisonment in de-
fault of payment. y One Indictment
is for stealing rails from J. L. Burner to the
value of 20c., and the other for stealing
the value of 81. This same Moore was
again on the grand jury. 1t will be noticed
that this last offense was committed more
than a year ago, and, although cognizable
by n Justice of the Peace, nothing was said
or done about it till this same Moore got
upon a special grand jury
"When the case was called, Mr.. Riddle
berger was sent for, to appear i'll behalf of
Jones. Owing to illness, he begged to be
axcy1Sad hyIf finally want NaeaScitv arOca
however, for his leaving the court room : and
the Judge appointed Gen. Williams to assist
as counsel. On his return, Mr.. Riddleberger
decided to remain through the trial
Neither Wetzel nor Moore, he says, evinced
a disposition to prosecute; but, during an
other absence of Mr. Riddleberger from the
room, a plea Of insanity had been filed, and
the States Attorney urged its acceptance.
Mr.. Riddleberger came back in time to OPP
pose this scheme, and to demand a verdict
of mot guilty" To pronounce Jones in
sane meant to keep him in Jail without a
prescribed limit. But the jury found him So
Mr.. Riddleberger declares that the trial
was in violation of the usual procedure,
being without the form of preliminary ex-
animation before a justice Of the peace. He
insists that Jones was victim of grand
Juror malice no one having been willing to
prosecute the fellow until Moore got ON the
grand jury.
"The obnoxious street placard Mr.. Riddle
berger declares "a fair delineation of the
oddities, cruelties and tyrannies of this mo-
mentous trial. When he appeared in court
to answer for contempt he asked for an in
quiry into the author of the placard, but 10
no purpose He was fined and committed
to Jail for five days, TO which nine more
were added owing to a disturbance at the
door, Mr. Riddleberger's nephew was sher-
if, and was not asked by the Court whether
the prisoner was attempting TO escape
Once at Jail, Mr.. Riddleberger received
much kind attention from the townspeople
The Senator continues:
:."Now as to the matter of the rescue 1t
simply amounts TO this: That a number of
young friends, entirely irrespective of poll
tics, came to the Jail and demanded that /
should do as they directed After half an
hour or more of conference with Mrs Shull
and others, l thought it best for all con-
cerned, including the Judge, TO go out. On
Monday morning returned of my own volt
ton. That | was examined by two physi-
clans is not correct. l have learned that all
the physicians of the town recommended
that | should not be confined for reason
which they have known of without examina-
ton. ~